SR 622: Joint Study Committee on Evaluating Escalating Costs in Georgia's Foster Care System; create

Georgia's Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS), which has custody of nearly 10,000 foster children, has seen the cost of out-of-home care services like transportation and behavioral aides climb sharply, from $141.3 million in FY25 to a projected $164.7 million in FY26, a 159 percent increase since 2022. This resolution responds by creating the Joint Study Committee on Evaluating Escalating Costs in Georgia's Foster Care System. The committee would have 20 members, including six senators, six House members, a governor's appointee with dependency-case legal experience, several state agency commissioners or their designees, judicial council presidents, and a representative from Together Georgia, a child welfare provider alliance. The committee can hold meetings, study the cost drivers and service delivery framework, and issue a report with legislative recommendations. It must file any approved report before the committee is abolished on December 1, 2026.

• Creates the Joint Study Committee on Evaluating Escalating Costs in Georgia's Foster Care System, made up of 20 members.
• Directs the committee to study the causes of rising out-of-home foster care costs and the delivery of wrap-around services.
• Sets appointment rules, giving the Governor, Senate President, and House Speaker specific appointees, including provider representatives and cochairpersons.
• Authorizes the committee to recommend legislation or other action based on its findings.
• Sets per diem and expense reimbursement rules for legislative, state official, and other committee members, capped at five days unless extended.
• Abolishes the committee automatically on December 1, 2026, unless it files a report or meeting minutes beforehand.

Foster children in DFCS custody, the Department of Human Services and DFCS staff, licensed child placing agencies and child caring institutions, juvenile and superior court judges, and state legislators and agency commissioners who will serve on or interact with the new study committee.

Out-of-home foster care costs have nearly doubled since 2022, raising concerns about whether the state can keep funding current service levels. This committee gives lawmakers, judges, and providers a formal venue to study the cost drivers and propose changes before the next budget cycle.

• Paragraph (2) sets committee membership at 20, detailing appointments by the Governor, Senate President, and House Speaker, including required provider representatives.
• Paragraph (2)(E) adds ex officio members from four state agencies, two judicial councils, and Together Georgia, a statewide child welfare provider alliance.
• Paragraph (3) charges the committee with studying the conditions and problems behind rising costs and recommending action or legislation.
• Paragraph (5) sets reimbursement rules, capping allowances at five days of meetings unless additional days are authorized, funded through legislative appropriations.
• Paragraph (6) requires any approved report or, absent one, meeting minutes to be filed with the Secretary of the Senate and Clerk of the House before abolishment.
• Paragraph (7) abolishes the committee on December 1, 2026.

1. 2026-03-25House Passed/Adopted (House)
2. 2026-03-25House Third Readers (House)
3. 2026-02-26House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
4. 2026-02-10House Second Readers (House)
5. 2026-02-09House First Readers (House)
6. 2026-02-06Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
7. 2026-02-06Senate Third Read (Senate)
8. 2026-02-05Senate Read Second Time (Senate)

• Kay Kirkpatrick (R, SD-032)Primary sponsor
• Bo Hatchett (R, SD-050)
• Elena Parent (D, SD-044)
• Chuck Payne (R, SD-054)
• Matt Brass (R, SD-006)
• Blake Tillery (R, SD-019)
• Beth Camp (R, HD-135)

1. PassedSenate voteFebruary 6, 2026

   49 yea, 0 nay (0 not voting, 5 absent)

   Adoption: Senate Vote #526

2. PassedHouse voteMarch 25, 2026

   165 yea, 0 nay (4 not voting, 7 absent)

   Adopt: House Vote #759

• foster care
• child welfare
• state budget
• DFCS
• legislative study committee